Proven Faith – The Testing of One’s Faith – James 1:2-8 – Bible study

A PROVEN FAITH – TESTING ONE’S FAITH

James 1:2-8

Cooper P. Abrams III

INTRODUCTION:    A FAITH THAT CANNOT BE TESTED – CANNOT BE TRUSTED. A FAITH THAT FAILS THE TEST IS NOT REAL.

ILLUS: The first successful sustained powered flights in a heavier-than-air machine were made by Wilbur and Orville Wright on December 17, 1903. A 60-foot granite monument dedicated in 1932, is perched atop 90-foot tall Kill Devil Hill, at Kitty Hawk, on the North Carolina Outer Banks commemorating the achievement of these two visionaries from Dayton, Ohio. I am a native of Eastern North Carolina and have been there many times. I have always been interested in aviation.

         In August of 1900, Wilbur built his first glider. He then contacted the U.S. Weather Bureau for information on windy regions of the country. Reviewing the list, he chose a remote sandy area off the coast of North Carolina named Kitty Hawk, where winds averaged 13 m.p.h. He and Orville then journeyed to Kitty Hawk where they tested the 1900 glider. The following year, they tested a new and improved glider with a 22-foot wingspan. A disappointing performance by the 1901 glider prompted the Wright brothers to construct a wind tunnel to test the effectiveness of a variety of wing shapes. Using the results of the wind tunnel experiments, they constructed their 1902 glider. Testing it at Kitty Hawk in October, they met with success, gliding a record 620 feet. Once again they returned to Dayton and began work on developing a propeller and an engine for their next effort, a flying machine.

         The believed that they could build a machine that would allow man to fly. It took years of testing….trial and error….before they found success. They experienced failures like the 1901 glider experiment.

         Having designed a propeller with the same principles thy used to design their wings, Wilbur and Orville then built their own 4-cylinder, 12-horsepower engine. They built the 1903 Flyer in sections in the back room of their cycle shop at 1127 West Third in Dayton. When completed, it was shipped down to Kitty Hawk and assembled. On December 14, 1903, Wilbur won a coin toss and made the first attempt to fly the machine. He stalled it on take-off, causing some minor damage. The plane was repaired, and Orville made the next attempt on December 17. At 10:35 a.m., he made the first heavier-than-air, machine powered flight in the world. In a flight lasting only 12 seconds and covering just 120 feet, Orville did what men and women had only dreamed of doing for centuries, . . . he flew.

         Without the constant and rigorous testing they would not have been successful. They thought their first glider would fly, but testing showed weaknesses in the design. Without a glider that would fly they could not add an engine and have the machine fly.

         Do you see the need of testing? It was a step of faith to climb on that machine power up the engine and release it. They believed that man could fly….and testing proved he could.

         Suppose you needed to fly to some distant city. Would you put your trust in an airplane that had never flown or been tested? Of course the answer is obvious.

         God tells us in James 1:2-8. “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.”

I. Faith is Tested by a Believer’s Commitment and Devotion to the Lord.

A. God has a purpose in allowing us to be tested. Testing is a solicitation to do right, to give us the opportunity to grow, and to prove our faith to be true. Our testing is the means whereby God strengthens us for greater service for Him. He trains us how to live a better and fuller life in Christ.

Many people make professions of faith and many I believe sincerely will tell you that believe in Jesus Christ and love the Lord. However, many professing Christians are not living like Christians should and as the Bible instructs us. Their faith will not keep the faith the worship services and meetings of their church, it will not produce godly living, it will not cause them to tithe and give their thanksgiving offerings to the Lord, it will not cause the to witness to others, and it is not strong enough to help them overcome sin in their lives. They live a phony kind of life claiming to be God’s children yet living as if He does not exist. Such a faith as this is merely a mental ascent to the concept of God but not a heart felt, life changing belief. 2 Corinthians 5:17 say, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new”, their lives remain much the same and their profession is only a lip service with our substance. When the trials and tests of life overcome them and they constantly struggle with obeying God.

The reality of one’s faith is shown in how it affects our life. The believer who has true biblical faith will demonstrate that in their lives.

B. As Believers and members of our church each of us has a role to fulfill.

1. God has a will for our church; a plan for us to reach others in our community for the Lord.

2. God has course for our church as a body. A church is an assembly of believers. What the members of a church are so will be the church they make up. 3. A church cannot be stronger than each of its members.

4. Of course every church has members who are strongly committed to the Lord and others who are not as committed. Like a chain it is said that a chain is as strong as its weakest link.

This truth makes it important that each member of a church be wholly committed to the Lord and to the work that the Lord has for them in that local assembly.

The work God has for you cannot be performed by someone else. He has given each person in the body the gifts and abilities to perform certain tasks. Others are given the gifts to carry out their jobs.

C. God has a will for each member.

1. 1 Corinthians 12:14 says, “For the body is not one member, but many.” 2. Verse 18 says, “. . .God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him” and verse 25 says there should be no schism or division in the body. Each member is equally important in God’s plan and necessary for God’s work to be done.

3. The Lord is to be first in our lives in all things. Col. 1:18 says that Christ is to be preeminent in our lives. Not just prominent, but preeminent! So many believers have a good talk, but a weak walk. Many say how much they love the Lord….I believe they think they do….but in reality it is only lip service, because when the test comes….they fail.

ILLUS: In my early Christian live God tested me many times. Once on a Sunday morning I got up and walked out in our yard. We had built a beautiful home on a lake. It was early so I walked out to my pier and took in the beauty and peacefulness of the place. Up and down the banks of the lake I could hear fish breaking the water feeding. Off in the distance, almost out of hearing, I heard a large bass break. I dearly loved bass fishing and to hear that bass feeding was music to my ears. I begin to think about going fishing. There was my boat and tackle all ready to go. I dearly wanted to go. Yet, it was Sunday, the Lord’s day…not a day to work or play…but a day dedicated to the Lord and to worship Him. Oh, the struggle that went on inside. I was being tested!!! God probably sent that perch along so that bass would attack it and splash the water so I could hear it. He wanted me to be a teacher in my church and to serve Him there and He was allowing me to be tested so that I might make the right decision that He was more important that catching a fish and pursuing the hobby I looked so dearly. I thank God that day that I turned around went into the house and finished getting ready for church.

That day same at church I watched the elderly Mrs. Davis as she was helped out of the car and into the church by her son Johnie and another man. I watched her face as she grimaced in pain. In the service the pastor asked if anyone had a word of testimony. Mrs. Davis raised her hand and said pastor I am so glad I was able to come today. I so love coming to God’s house. It is so good to be able to be here today. My conscience convicted me at that moment for thinking a hobby was more important to me than God was. You see that was the reason for the testing! That day I made a decision that from then on me and my family would be in church for every service. When Sunday morning or night came or Wednesday came the matter was settled. We loved the Lord and He was preeminent in our lives. Later that year they asked me to teach a teenage class which I taught for several years. Then they wanted me to teach the young adults and in 1977 God called me to preach. This is but one of the many tests I went through along the way. I thank God He has seen fit to let me serve Him. I would have had a few moments pleasure going bass fishing, but the satisfaction of knowing that I obeyed God has been a continual one and cannot be compared to a moments pleasure. I learned that day…you either love the Lord and serve Him or you don’t…..What you do proves what is truly in your heart.

D. Exodus 20:3 says “Have no other God before me.” We understand that referred to idols and we think of an idol as being some statue make my man and bowed down too.
1. It is just as sinful and just as disobedient to put ANYTHING before the Lord as bowing down to some wooden or stone carving.

2. What do you put before God? What will keep you from church. What will cause you to sin? What to you is more important that obeying God and for what will you give up your testimony?

Is recreation and fun more important. Is watching or attending a baseball game or some sport? I hunting and fishing more important to you that worshiping God?

ILLUS: Carolyn and I have a relative that had several children and when they were in high school they were all in sports. This relative and his wife went to every game….but they did not take them to church often. Once in a while they came. Now they are all grown….only one of them is in church and the others have cause them so much grief by the sinful lives they have lived. They had their priorities all mixed up and they are now paying a hurtful price for it.

Since living in Utah I have been amazed that when hunting season comes how many professing Christians go hunting on Sunday. Deer and elk hunting is more important that coming to church.

On Super Bowl Sunday….I have been dismayed at how many church members stay home to watch the game. Is watching a foot ball game more important that worshiping the Lord? Seems some think so.

What is in our hearts will come out. Some like those referred to in James 1:23-24, “For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.”

I recently heard a famous radio preacher address this same subject in his message using Luke 6:46 when Jesus said, “And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?”

4. To others a job is more important or money, prestige, looking young, being pretty or admired, houses, boats, cars and thousands of things that will ALL pass away..

5. Do you know why many professing Christians to do not tithe? They are not really trusting in the Lord. You say that is not a kind thing to say about someone! Well, every Sunday their faith in God is tested when the offering plate is passed. They never get pass that test and God cannot bless them. So they miss God’s richest blessing because God says the “Just shall live by faith.”

Did you note what James 1:6-7 says, ” For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.” That is straight from God Himself.

He is telling us….He honors our faith. Hebrews 11:6 “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”

ILLUS: Sometimes I feel that people are offended when we preachers preach as I am this morning, urging those who profess to be God’s children to obey Him in all things.

As a pastor I love my congregation. Carolyn as my wife….you know my heart better than anyone….do I love these people? That means everyone one of you. It is a love not based on who your are, your money, or anything material. It is based on sharing God’s love and wanting to see you grow in the Lord and have all His rich blessings. I want you to have that with all my heart. I will risk making you mad with me in order to see you face the truth and get right with the Lord. God says in Proverbs, “Faithful are the wounds of a friend;. . . Proverbs 27:17 say, “Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.”

1 Timothy 4:6 comes to mind. “If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine. . .”

Also Galatians 1:10 which says, “For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.”Did you note that last phrase?

II. Faith is Measured Not Only by the Degree of its Devotion, but also by the Height of its Obedience.

A. When our faith is tested there is always a result. There is success or failure. Our faith is proven to be real or non existent.

B. It true faith is there….obedience will result. Hebrews 11 speaks of the Old Testament saints and those that were faithful and how God used their faithfulness. It speaks of what was in their hearts that motivated them to serve the Lord and accomplish great feats for the Lord. Their faith was proved by what they did:

“These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.” (Heb. 11:13-16)

1. Did you note verse 15? It tells us these dear saints of God were not mindful of the country from whence they came out….and if they had been mindful of the world they would probably have returned to it. But their faith in trusting in the Lord and they saw a better country. The world and all its pleasures had no hold on them. They realized how futile and temporal are the things of earth. That is what a true born again believer does. The world has no hold on him his heart is with the Lord and serving Him.

ILLUS: Years ago I worked really hard and built a large security systems company. I sent almost every waking hour thinking about it, planning, researching and working to built it greater. I loved the world and all it had. Success was my god and I worshiped and served it well. Yet, one day at a funeral I looked in the casket that held the body of a woman. That day I realized how foolish I was to put such get store in the things of this world. Every dollar I earned was spent on something that would not last….! Every success I had which were many, was soon forgotten by those around me and I felt I must constantly do great things to feed my sinful and worthless pride…. Thank God that day at that funeral I received Jesus Christ as my LORD and Savior and I became a new creature in Christ Jesus. The world lost it glimmer and hold on me. I am now just a pilgrim here, a sojourner on this earth. I have been given the privilege to know my God and Creator and to serve Him. It has been a hard struggle and laborious work most of the time. I and my wife have been ill treated many times. We have been deeply hurt by those we serve for the Lord. We have grieved over the failures in the lives of some of those we serve. But you see though it hurts….I do not serve for recognition or worldly reasons…I serve God because He loved me and died on that cross….suffering for my sins…yes mine own sins….and how can I not love Him in return. HOW CAN I NOT SERVE HIM!?!?!? Can you answer me that question? How can one who truly loves the Lord….be disobedient, allow sin in their lives, forsake God’s house and worship, not be working with all their heart to see God’s will be done. How can one not love the souls of the lost as God does?

III. Faith is Tested by the willingness to Sacrifice for the Lord.

A. In the Old Testament no one came before the Lord in worship who did not bring a sacrifice.

B. David in 2 Samuel 24:24 stated his heart when Araunah offered to buy and give him the oxen and place to sacrifice to the Lord. David replied. “Neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the LORD my God of that which doth cost me nothing.

C. Let’s let God tell you what sacrifice He desires of us.

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (Romans 12:1-2)

1. What does the verse says is our reasonable service to the Lord? ….Giving ourselves as living sacrifices to the Lord….

2. Why do you thing that God then stated “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God”

3. I think the answer is obvious….it is the world that draws us form Christ. Satisfying human lusts and pleasures. Living like the world destroys our relationship and blessings they Lord has for us.

Conclusion:

1. Yes, faith is tested by the depth of its devotion to the Lord, by the height of its obedience and by ones willingness to sacrifice for the Lord.

2. Did you know that even at this moment your faith is being tested. If God has brought conviction to your heart about something in your life that is not right, some sin, something you put before the Lord….you are being tested to see if you will live by faith or by live by fulfilling worldly desires and worldly goals.

1 Corinthians 2:12 “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.”

1 John 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

1 John 2:17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

1 John 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

Matthew 6:19 says, “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal.”

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